to prepare students for beginning-level generalist social work practice who are well-equipped with theory and skill and socialized into the profession;

to prepare students with a solid foundation for graduate training in social work;

to enhance the professional development of social service workers of the region.

Social work practice is licensed in Ohio as in many other states. A social work degree at either the master or baccalaureate level is required to be eligible for a license. Bluffton's baccalaureate social work degree meets the standards for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education.

Social work is concerned with helping people improve their lives through direct and indirect services. Social workers work with individuals, groups, communities and social policy issues to enable people to deal with their problems. Social workers bring to their practice an examined value orientation and a unique knowledge base that focuses on the interaction of person and environment.

Licensed social workers are employed in many types of settings by public and private agencies. Fields of practice include services to children, medical, mental health, services for elderly, criminal justice, schools, recreational and character-building programs, community planning and organization, overseas relief and development, public welfare and others. Roles for B.A.-level social workers include case management, supportive counseling and beginning level program development and administrative roles.

A generalist approach at the baccalaureate level provides skills enabling graduates to take employment in most fields of social work practice or to go on to graduate study. The program seeks competent students who are concerned about people and social problems, who want to help people and desire to work on improving the social environment in which they live. A strong emphasis is placed on understanding issues of human diversity within our society. Cross-cultural and off-campus experiences are strongly encouraged.

Field work is an important feature of social work education. The student engages in one semester of in-agency practicum within a broad choice of settings. This provides opportunity for the student to integrate knowledge with practice and demonstrate skills and competencies learned throughout the curriculum.

Entrance to the upper-level courses requires a written application into the program and a formal interview with program faculty. Transfer students are asked to submit letters of reference. See the Social Work Program Student Manual for further information. Additional information about the social work program, the profession of social work, and career opportunities can be found at www.bluffton.edu/swk/.

The major can begin in the first, sophomore or even in the junior year, although the later beginnings presume substantial prior work on the general education and foundation courses. While breadth in the liberal arts is encouraged, some students may wish to combine the social work major with the peace and conflict studies minor, Spanish or other majors or minors toward particular career interests.

Courses SWK 120 Introduction to Social Work (3) Introduces social work as a professional endeavor and the service programs and policies of formally organized agencies and institutions in which social workers work. Looks at the history, purpose, values, methods and structure of the profession. A variety of practice settings and social problem issues of concern are examined. Students are challenged to examine their own value commitment to working with people and striving for social reform, whether as a social work professional or public citizen. Includes a 15-clock-hour community service learning experience in a social service agency.